Terrain V01 - Journal - Page 16
14 | Sterling College
Living
Laboratory
Sterling has once again earned recognition of its sustainability achievements
from the Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education (AASHE). AASHE’s Sustainability
Tracking, Assessment & Rating System
(STARS) measures and recognizes sustainability in all aspects of higher education. Sterling has achieved and maintained a STARS Gold rating since 2015.
In 2021, Sterling is being recognized by
STARS as a top performer for baccalaureate institutions, specifically in curriculum and food & dining.
Check out a few of our “Campus as a
Living Laboratory” highlights which recognize substantive work that involves
active and experiential student learning
and contributes to understanding or advancing sustainability.
From Grain to Table
Gray Hunter ‘21
Gray completed his Senior Year Research Project (SYRP) and graduated
with a degree in Sustainable Agriculture
& Food Systems. His SYRP, From Grain
to Table: Integrating the Sterling College
Grain System, assessed the viability and
desirability of grain production systems
at Sterling. This work was conducted in partnership with the Northeast
Grainshed, a group of farmers, millers,
maltsters, brewers, bakers, distillers,
restaurants, educators, researchers,
and home baking and brewing fans
committed to building a local food chain
in the Northeast.
Gray assessed the production, processing, milling, and baking qualities of heritage wheat (Red Fife) and corn (Calais
Flint) varieties. Lasting outcomes include lab analyses of wheat and corn
and recommendations for grains in the
Sterling production system based on
multi-factoral data gathering.
Following graduation, Gray was quickly employed by a brewery of the midscale variety and realized it wasn’t a values-aligned choice. Rather than being
complicit in a system that profits off the
status quo, he’s currently working in the
natural foods sector in Portland, Oregon,
and exploring a progressive cooperative.
“COVID-19 sent a shockwave through
the industrialized food system in early
2020, waking many up to the agricultural realities we face in a fragile world
and changing climate. The future is yet
uncertain, but if local grains continue to
play a larger and larger part in it, we can
be assured of ever-greater community
ties, collaboration, and delicious, nutritious, real good food.”
Photos: Compliments of Gray Hunter